Pubdate: Tue, 11 May 1999
Date: 05/11/1999
Source: Sydney Morning Herald (Australia)
Author: Michael Brereton

No doubt all the doctors, counsellors, rehabilitation workers, parents
and other people associated with drug addiction who speak at the
forthcoming drug summit will make worthy and sincere
contributions.

Hut how many of these people have had, or still have, a chronic
dependency on drugs? I suspect few, if any. Will that not ensure that
all information provided primarily will be second-hand and confine the
ensuing discussion to a theoretical perspective?

I would suggest that the summit be extended for a couple of days to
provide an opportunity for all our State politicians to spend time in
detox centres, rehabilitation clinics, Narcotics Anonymous meetings
and other venues where they may talk extensively, and listen, to
people who have had or still have a drug dependency. This would enable
them to place the theoretical arguments into a pragmatic context

Michael Brereton,
North Epping